During which Snow White liberates Disney Castle.
An aroma lacking life emanated off the walls as Snow White bolted up the steps leading out of the dungeons. Jiminy Cricket clung to the sailor collar adorning her shoulders, holding on tight with one gloved hand and clutching his blue top hat with the other, still feeling quite wide-eyed after her previous display of strength. By now she had reclaimed her weapon, having wasted no time in knocking Pete unconscious, its blade now hanging just above each step as she swiftly made her way towards the exit, a wooden door leading out to a hallway on one of the castle's lower floors. On the way out, the girl had also picked up a strange bag; he didn't know quite what it was, but he presumed she had her reason for bringing it along, and thus chose not to question her decision. Jiminy didn't know for sure which room Maleficent would be holding Queen Minnie in, but he had a hunch.
"Miss Snow White? I think I might know where our Queen Minnie is!" he mentioned.
Her golden eyes gave him a glance momentarily, before returning to the path ahead. They weren't far off from the way out now, and it was clear that she knew.
Taking that glance as a cue to tell her, he spoke again, "Not too long ago, the King and I were lookin' into somethin' of mine, and we did most of our work up in the castle library. Somethin' tells me if she's after somethin' of ours, then she'll be waitin' there!"
"Then that's where we're going. Stick to me for now." Snow White ordered, bluntly, but not unkindly.
"I must say, Snow White...how did'cha...y'know, do that back there? I thought that sorta strength wasn't in most people...!" Jiminy began.
Opening the door, Snow White answered, "If you're worried about mentioning a 'Keyblade', don't be. Pete had already given that part away to me earlier."
Distinctly unsurprised by that statement, Jiminy sighed a little to himself. He supposed it couldn't hurt, and she was helping them reclaim the castle, so he supposed she deserved to have at least some information about what was happening. "Well then...what I meant was, most people around here don't tend to have that type of strength unless they've got Keyblades on 'em. Did he tell ya what they were?"
"Not really. I can figure from the name they're some sort of combination of a key and a sword, and that they must be significant." Snow White said. "And that Pete and Maleficent had dealt with someone who used it, possibly three."
"Ah...he was probably talkin' about Sora then." Jiminy clarified. "He's a good friend of the King's, and the Queen's, and of mine!" he added. "He's sent Pete and Maleficent packin' a couple of times now. Sure makes me wish he was around now...!"
"Is he the one the King's left to go attend to?" Snow White questioned.
"Well, yes- oh, as I live and breathe...!" Jiminy cried.
Snow White didn't need to ask why - as soon as she had opened the stairwell's door, she was soon barraged by a massive, thorned vine tearing its way across the floor and towards the wall, attempting to close her in like a terrible, black bulging vein. Acting fast, she leapt up like a bird taking flight and swung her halberd beneath her in a hard slice; she struggled with it, a dosage of magic acting as a shield for the thick line of thorns, but she ultimately won out, cutting it in half like a plant facing shears, before landing on the once pristine floor. Surveying her surroundings quickly, she soon realised that said thorns littered the entirety of the lower floors, and seemed to be working their way up - keeping everyone locked away in their sole places. It reminded her of a fairytale, of the story of Sleeping Beauty, of walls of thorns so thick it killed any prince who tried to enter.
Fortunately for her, she was no prince, but also not just anyone in turn.
"Ya sure ya can cut through all of these, Snow White?" Jiminy asked, nervously.
"I have no doubt." Snow White stated, assuredly.
"Look out!"
At his call, the girl in white turned, and then ducked down; with a high-pitched whistle, a flood of arrows darted one after another above her head, lodging themselves into the walls. The rattling of the thorns spreading through the castle was now joined by a small collection of footsteps, prompting her to pick up Jiminy by the collar and hide him away in her nearest pocket.
"Don't come out until I tell you." was the only thing she said to him, before she tucked him in, out of sight and out of enemies' minds.
Appearing through the only gap in the seemingly endless stretch of thorned stems, the only way forward, a group of humanoid creatures began to storm towards her, pointing spears and maces and firing arrows. Deciding to bring the fight to them, she quickly approached, spinning her naginata and deflecting the next barrage of arrows as she moved to close the gap between herself and them. As soon as she began to fight, the black-clad goons seemed to grow immediately apprehensive about fighting her, their thoughts echoing it in return, but lunged forward all the same.
'Should we...?'
'Must, must!'
The first lifted his mace, and before he could bring it down, she abruptly turned and tore her lance's blade through the air, knocking it flying and clattering off to an unknown corner. As she did, she swept her leg across the ground, knocking down another two. Rolling backwards (ensuring Jiminy was safe in her nearest pocket before doing so) as she spotted more in the distance attempting to fire their bows at her, she poked her spear forward as her enemies attempted to get back up to their feet, sending them tumbling like balls as she jumped up into the air again, swinging her lance backwards and rising it upward.
The front of her uniform was slightly torn from the goons' panicked attempts at shooting her down, but it at most felt like grazing to her. Tiles ripped up from the floor at the impact of her spear's end smashing against them, as they dispersed into green flames, sputtering out with no more fuss afterwards. Grunts of terror piped up from behind her, as those that remained fled, not taking one look back at her. Snow White watched them go for a moment, but did little more; they had raised the white flag, and she would allow that. She'd be dealing with their mistress soon enough anyways, and that would close off their remaining options.
Her battle had opened up the rest of the way, even if only temporarily. Deciding it would be best to continue moving her way upward, running through battles as smoothly as she could manage, she raised a hand to her ear, reaching out to distant thoughts, and Minnie's voice sprouted up in her mind - anxious, but with no signs of having been harmed. Good. Listening for a few more moments, a familiar thuggish voice joined in, admitting 'she really got me...!'.
"Do you know where the next flight of stairs are, Jiminy?" Snow White asked.
Popping his head out from her pocket, the cricket glanced around briefly to familiarise himself again with their current surroundings and then nodded twice. "Y-yes! We're pretty close; just down the end of that hall, then turn left, and the stairs will be in the middle of that one."
"How far to the library?" she persisted.
"Not far now. Just this next one and we're on the right floor." Jiminy answered, quickly.
"I can get us there. Hold on tight." the Magical Girl stated.
It was one long run from here to the next staircase; taking a single breath of preparation, the girl began to sprint in one smooth line, curving and ducking and leaping over the thorns that tried to block her path forward. It was almost like a dance, with how easily she was able to lean back and fly upwards on the fly, even when she had only seconds to avoid the piercing walls of thorns as they grew around her, her halberd cutting through them like they were vegetables on a chopping board, the mighty sound of their collapse and tearing echoing off the castle walls, air rushing past them as she skilfully made her way through. Even from the safety of her pocket, Jiminy couldn't help but try to peer outward, to see the display, even as she flipped through the air and slid under vines as they bulged and grew in the castle hall. Any of Maleficent's minions which tried to stop her was easily knocked to the side, or even sent flying outside from the strength of her swings, precise and all the more powerful for it. Before long, she had reached the next flight of stairs, and was continuing her run up them, unimpeded.
Jolting slightly from each of her quick steps, Jiminy allowed himself to reappear in her vision. "I gotta say, Snow White...! You really are somethin' else!" he said.
"I'm only doing what I should be." Snow White answered, simply - yet it was an answer that stuck with him regardless. Even with the stoic mask she wore, she clearly cared about doing the right thing, one way or another, even if it meant fighting through a barrage of violent minions and barbed vines. He might not have known what she was in full, but he knew if she was of this world, she would have been more than worthy of a Keyblade.
Before long, the girl and the cricket had reached the next hallway, its once ornate fairytale beauty ravaged by Maleficent's wretched black plantlife, a sight that made her past self's heart ache a little, even if it wasn't a thought she considered much. Just as she stepped out however, that was when she heard it - what almost sounded like a human groan, as a great vine ripped straight for her. Preparing to cut through it, she was taken aback by something else appearing before her; a circular shield, blue and outlined with gold, with a distinctive shape splashed across its front, like three black circles forming the head of a mouse. It had been thrown in the air, and thinking fast, Snow White protected herself and Jiminy with the shield, before curving herself around to rip the life out of the attacking vine, prompting it to fall into a black heap across the floor, even more falling like flies as a giant blast of light appeared in the centre of the corridor.
"Gawrsh, I'm glad you're alright, miss!" another voice chimed in. "And you too, Jiminy!"
"That was a close one, Goofy...! Be more careful!" an additional one chided.
"This is yours?" Snow White extended her arm out to the first of them; another anthropomorphic creature, this time a black dog, stood taller than her, being built like a pole. His ears were round, and his expression was honestly quite friendly towards the new arrival, even with their circumstances.
"That it is!" 'Goofy' replied, taking his shield back. "Are you that Magical Girl the King was supposed to meet after Sora and Riku's tests?"
"I believe so." Snow White replied. "Do you know each other?" she looked to Jiminy.
"Oh, yes! We're all good friends!" Jiminy explained.
Before long, the second of the group had walked over, giving a slight smack to Goofy's arm. He was much shorter than him, and the animal he was (though again, he also walked on two legs) was plain to see, given his white feathers and yellow beak, though his expression seemed more easily soured than Goofy's.
"Hey! You can't just go round sayin' that!" he scolded.
"Now, c'mon Donald...!" Goofy responded, turning to his friend. "They said that we'd know by looking at her who she was, and I've got a gut feelin' that's who she is!"
"The Land of Magic sent me. If it's to do with a sudden disappearance of mana, then you've got the right person."
"See?"
"Aw, alright...! So she can be trusted."
"Gosh, I'm sorry our meeting had to be like this...!"
The group all turned, as another mouse-like creature emerged, having cut through a vine to get to them. Walking towards them, he held a key-like sword - and the moment she saw it, Snow White was willing to bet all the contents of her Four-Dimensional Bag that the weapon he carried was the Keyblade she'd heard be mentioned before. He only went up to Snow White's waist in height, but she wasn't going to doubt his capability; especially given how swiftly he had been able to eradicate the thorns surrounding them in mere moments.
"Don't worry about it." Snow White assured. She curtsied, "I'm guessing you're King Mickey?"
"That's right!" Mickey confirmed. "It's good to meetcha - I only wish it wasn't while having to deal with Maleficent! To think we'd already be having to again, Jiminy. Gosh...I hope Minnie's alright..."
"She is. We think Maleficent is holding her in the library - but nothing's told me she's been hurt." Snow White continued.
Allowing himself to breathe a sigh of relief, Mickey placed a hand on his heart. "Well, she won't need to worry - because I'm not gonna let Maleficent hurt her!"
"And neither are we!" Donald piped up, raising a magical staff in determination.
"Yeah!" Goofy joined in.
"Looks like we've got ourselves quite the team now, huh, Snow White?" Jiminy remarked.
After a moment of silence, Snow White allowed the faintest hint of a smile to cross her otherwise stoic face. "Definitely."
The group of five were instantly met with an unfortunate greeting upon their entry to the library; Maleficent stood at the front, staff in hand and composed in the face of Snow White's escape, Pete at her side...and Minnie in his hold, his large hands covering her mouth. His expression instantly darkened as they entered, shooting Snow White a glare she could only face with indifference.
"You! You're gonna pay for what you did in that dungeon, 'magical girl'!" Pete barked, accusingly.
"Of course a big thug like you couldn't beat a magical girl!" Donald responded in her defence.
"Heh, thug works for me! We all got a role to play, right?" Pete chortled.
"I see you were more resourceful than I expected, Snow White," Maleficent commented, eerily calm. "No matter - all you have done is prove to me the merit in what lies in your world. I will have to claim more than just my part of mana. Indeed...I have great plans for the worlds, including yours...once I claim them for myself,"
Mickey's eyes narrowed at her as he questioned, "Then I've got bad news for you! That day's never gonna come! And what do you mean, 'your part'?"
Maleficent simply arched a brow at his answer. "I would suggest you reconsider - unless your dear queen's life means nothing to you at all," she stated, coldly.
"Mickey!" Minnie's voice joined in suddenly, interrupting the witch, worry burning in her eyes. "Don't you listen to her!-"
"No, Minnie!" Mickey cried.
"Let her go." Snow White ordered, harshly.
"And why ever would I do that?" Maleficent retorted. "None of you are in any place to make demands."
Sighing in resignation, Mickey stopped for a moment. If they wanted any chance of getting her out of here, they would need to play by her game, even if just for a little bit. "Alright - what is it you want?"
"Much better." the wicked fairy sneered. "And it as I said - these worlds, drenched in darkness and at my command."
'How original,' Snow White thought with disdain. 'And how blatantly false.'
"You're lying, Maleficent! Even you wouldn't go through this much trouble just for that." Mickey pointed out, voicing the thought Snow White had conjured up moments before. "What is it you're really after? What is it that caused you to go as far as to steal from the Land of Magic?"
With faux respect, the witch gave them a small smirk. "Very perceptive. I am familiar with a certain individual - someone who led me to discover worlds far outside of my own...including that of our dear Snow White's."
"You know Xehanort!?" Mickey started, gaining Snow White's attention almost immediately - Xehanort. So...was this the other person who'd laid claim to the Land of Magic's mana? And if so, then to what end? Maleficent's was relatively obvious, the most common motivation of any wicked witch. But this Xehanort person...he was presently a mystery to her, though she wouldn't allow him to be for long.
"As do you, I see." Maleficent said. "Yes...! He shared everything with me - how to lure a heart over to the deepest darkness, the Seven Hearts of pure light...and the way to reach out to the powers of the Land of Magic, and use them for myself...as well as from one more world we laid claim to."
Mickey seemed to mull over her words for a moment, before his expression grew white. "Wait! You don't mean..."
"Oh, indeed I do. Why? Is the realm of sleep of significance to you?" the woman clad in black taunted, knowing full well that it was. She could see it in her eyes, cruel and mocking.
The looks on Donald and Goofy's faces gave them away, struck with worry; pondering to herself, Snow White remembered the two boys they mentioned - Riku and Sora. Was their test somehow connected to such a realm? A certain ache rang out in her heart, hearing those words, one collected amongst those she grieved - the very first loss, the one that made her realise what the Raising Project was.
"Oh, to all of you...!" Maleficent cackled. "How delightful. And that leaves only one realm left - you see, the worlds all proved to be too complex, too much for even me to contain. And then, it came to me...I could go about conquering worlds in my own manner. You do have the data of all worlds, do you not? And now...you shall hand it over to me,"
Snow White's brow raised in puzzlement, as Mickey, Donald and Goofy shot up. The second Pete saw their faces, he grew accusing once more; "Don't you bozos pretend you don't remember! Me and Maleficent was trapped inside it, now cough it up!"
"But why do you want the data? Or the mana?" the king pressed further.
"I'm afraid that is no concern of yours." Maleficent continued. "Now then..." she began, her palm raising over the ball at the end of her staff. "I am afraid I have no more need for any of you - now I know that what I seek likes among these walls! Face your doom!"
A green flame glowed from the crystal ball, and Snow White darted before her newfound companions in mere seconds, preparing her lance for battle. She rose it high, seeing the spell be cast and lunged towards them like a hungry beast - only for some additional help to reveal itself. A flash of scarlet tore from behind, spinning and landing before them, causing the spell to disperse itself, protecting one side while she guarded the other. The weapon itself was distinct, looking like some sort of chakram, though to whom it belonged she currently didn't know.
Using the distraction of Pete and Maleficent, Minnie broke forward and free. Raising her hand, she called, "Light!"
Similar to Mickey's display in the corridor, a beam of light razed the ground, knocking Pete down on his behind and leaving Maleficent temporarily stunned. Without hesitation, the queen dashed forward to the safety of the others, Snow White standing before her as she took Mickey's hands into hers.
"Minnie!" he cried out in relief.
"Oh, Mickey!" she said, joyfully, before standing behind them.
Once he was sure she was safe, Mickey turned back to Maleficent and Pete, a white flash of light revealing his Keyblade again, while Donald and Goofy readied their staff and shield respectively, Snow White pointing her naginata towards the wicked pair. "It's over, Maleficent. You lose!" the king stated.
Sneering in disdain for them, the witch growled to herself. "Trust that I will eliminate you in good time - and do tell your precious Land of Magic, Snow White, that whatever protections they put before their magic and their 'soldiers' will not be enough to keep me away. I will have much more of it, that I assure you!"
In an explosion of black, violet and green, smoke filled the room as the wicked fairy disappeared, causing the others to recoil and cough for a moments. "Gawrsh, is everyone alright?" Goofy asked, once the air cleared. Donald, Mickey and Snow White offered nods in reply.
"I'm okay," Minnie answered, gently, before turning to the others. "Thank you all for coming to help me - I knew you would." she said, gratefully, only for her eyes to land on Snow White. "Especially you, Snow White - you didn't need to do what you did,"
Shaking her head, Snow White answered. "I'm only doing what's right."
Minnie visibly smiled at that; "They were right to send you, Snow White."
As the queen and the magical girl spoke, Mickey, Donald and Goofy turned towards the origin of the chakram; and found their mouths falling open.
"You used the darkness to get here...? That was reckless...!" Mickey began. "But...gosh, I definitely wasn't expectin' you to save us...Axel..."
"Axel?" Snow White repeated in question, as she looked towards the person Mickey was referring to. He was tall and lanky, taller than Goofy and definitely taller than herself, his hair a mess of red spikes; as if it were made of fire, and he wore a black coat that covered most of him.
Reaching a hand down and reclaiming his weapon, casually letting it rest against his back, he answered; "Axel didn't. My name is Lea - got it memorised?"
"...I feel like I've missed something," Snow White said.
"It's a long story," Mickey remarked. "C'mon - how about we pick all of this up at Yen Sid's tower? I...I think he'd able to help you with your problem, Snow White,"
"He's right, y'know!" Jiminy chimed in, peering out of her pocket. "Yen Sid's a wise wizard and Keyblade Master - if anyone can help ya in figurin' out what's goin' on in your world, it'll be him! And...it'll let us figure out what's goin' on with him too,"
"Snow White, was it?" Lea joined, casually. "Haven't seen you around before; have heard your name though..."
"I've been told that more than once." she mentioned.
"I can bet." Lea said. "There's a lot you're missing. When we get there, you're gonna have a long story to hear - if you're okay with waiting,"
"If it lets me figure out who this Xehanort person is...then there's no problem at all."
A/N: Hooray, I managed to update this without it being a month between chapters! If only the same went for my other fic...ah, well. I'll probably just wait and see if any brainrot comes to me for my other story, and if not I'll just leave it still. Ya never know when it might hit you, after all! But anyways, things are getting moving now with Snow White, and next chapter, we're going to finish off Prankster's Paradise! Then we'll be onto the second half of the worlds for 3D! I'm happy I got this chapter out now since I'm pretty sure I'm getting a cough as of writing this, so that means if it hits badly I'll have gotten a chapter out before I go into 'no thoughts, head empty' mode.
Now, onto the reviews! Starting with Captain Imaginat, I'm happy you had fun with the last chapter, and thanks so much for all your compliments! I was a little worried about the last one since I was feeling a bit out of practice, what with not having updated for so long prior. I hope you had fun with this Snow White chapter too!
And now for Tsuuji! First off, you're more than welcome to add me as a friend in Missing Link when it comes out! ^^ I don't mind one bit. And of course! I'm always happy to help with stories, and it means a lot to me that you want to help me too. You're more than welcome to send me stuff for inspiration for ideas, as I love reading that sort of thing. You're definitely right that even after they have to part once this story's done and dusted that they're gonna meet again - I have more than a couple ideas left going forward pertaining to that, and once the time comes, I hope you enjoy them! I love the thought of Nemurin being a Summon though, and when I get to that point I'm definitely going to implement it!
As always, thanks as always for reading, and I'll see you all in the next chapter!